Railroad crossing signal



sapt. 7, 1937. c, JOHNSON 2,092,606

RAILROAD CROSSING SIGNAL Filed Nov. 25, 19:55 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept-7, 1 c. F. JOHNSON 2,092,606

RAILROAD CROS S ING SIGNAL Filed NOV. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I 6.FT Jokmfiam.

Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE RAILROAD CROSSINGSIGNAL Chester F. Johnson, Odon, Ind.

Application November 25, 1935, Serial No. 51,508

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a railroad crossing signal, and one object ofthe invention is to provide a signal adapted to be installed in suchrelation to a railroad track and an intersecting highway that when atrain is approaching the crossing, signals mounted in the roadway atsome distance from the railroad track will be illuminated and thus serveas a warning that a train is approaching and thus eliminate danger of avehicle or person being struck by the train at the crossing due to aperson failing to see the approaching train or hearing the whistle.

. Another object of the invention is to so construct the apparatus thatpower for illuminating electric bulbs forming part of the signal will besupplied from a generator carried by the engine of the train and thusprevent the signal from being actuated except when a train isapproaching the crossing and also prevent likelihood of a personreceiving an electric shock when crossing the railroad track. This willalso prevent the signal from being rendered inoperative by anirresponsible or mischievous person tampering with a sourceof electricalsupply at the crossing.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the signaling elementof the apparatus that when it is installed it will be located upon theroadway at quite a distance from the railroad insuch position that itcan be easily seen by a person approaching the railroad and thuseliminate danger of a person failing to notice the signal.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the signaling elementthat when it is secured upon the roadway, an automobile or other vehiclemay be driven across it without damage in case a person fails to noticethe signal when not illuminated. l

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved contactcarried by the engine and so mounted that it will make good contact witha contact rail mounted between rails of the track and extendinglongitudinally thereof.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a top plan view showing the improved crossing signalinstalled inoperative relation to a railroad track and intersectinghighway.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the signaling elements mountedupon the roadway at some distance from the) railroad track.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken transversely through the signalingelement along the line 3-3 of Figure l. a

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation showing the contact mounted upon anengine, a portion of which is indicated by dotted lines and engaging thecontact rail which extends longitudinally of the track.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a Wiring diagram.

This improved railroad crossing signal is to be installed in operativerelation to a railroad track I and intersecting highway 2 which extendsacross the track as a grade'crossing. The signaling elements, which areindicated in general by the numeral 3, are located upon the highway at asuflicient distance from the railroad track that when the signals areilluminated to indicate that a train is approaching, a person driving anautomobile or other Vehicle along the highway will have ample time tobring the vehicle to a stop before reaching the railroad crossing. Aconduit, which consists of a metal pipe 4, is embedded in the highwayand extends longitudinally thereof between the signaling elements withits intermediate portion extending under the railroad track and throughthis conduit extend Wires 5 and 6, the ends of which are attached to thebinding posts of sockets l carrying electric bulbs 8. The wires 6 meetsubstantially midway the length of the pipe or conduit 4 and are passedoutwardly through a side opening thereof, as shown in Figure 1, one ofthe wires 6 being secured to one of the rails 9 of'the railroad trackand the other wire being secured to a contact rail or strip l6 mountedupon the ties of the railroad track and extending longitudinally thereofbetween the wheel engaging rails of the track. The contact strip orthird rail Ill extends across the highway and along the track fromopposite sides of the highway for such a distance that when a contactcarried by the train engages the third rail or strip Ill to complete acircuit through the lamps 3 of the signaling elements, these signalingelements will be illuminated for a sufficient length of time topermitthe driver of an automobile to be Warned in ample time to bring theautomobile to a stop and thus eliminate danger of a wreck due to thedriver of the automobile not receiving the warning soon enough.

Each of the signaling elements is constructed as shown in Figures 2 and3 and consists of a body I I formed of thick unbreakable glass. Thisbody is of appreciably greater length than width and of such dimensionsthat when it is secured upon the highway transversely thereof atsubstantially midway the Widthof the highway, it may be easily seen by aperson approaching the railroad crossing. The underface of the body I lis flat so that it may rest flat against the surface of the highway butthe upper surface of the body is curved transversely, as shown in Figure3, and slopes forwardly with its upper or rear portion merging into therear face of the body. Therefore, the upper surface of the body will bedisposed at such an incline that when the bulb 8 is illuminated, theword Stop which is painted or otherwise provided upon the body may bevery easily seen by a person approaching the signal. In the preferredembodiment of the invention, the body will be formed of red glass andthe lens, forming the word Stop, black. Therefore, when the bulb isilluminated a red light will be displayed in addition to the word Stopand a person will not be liable to fail to notice the warning signal.Ends of the body are beveled, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and,therefore, if the wheel of a vehicle should make contact with an endportion of the signaling element, a glancing blow will be received bythe body and likelihood of its being broken reduced to a minimum. Itshould also be noted that since the upper surface of the body is roundedtransversely and extends at the incline shown in Figure 3, a wheel of avehicle may pass over the signal without being liable to break it. Theinterior of the body is hollowed to provide a chamber l2 to receive thesocket l and bulb 8, and referring to Figure 3 it will be seen that thesocket is secured against the rear wall of the chamber by bolts I3 whichare embedded in the body and project forwardly from the rear wall of thechamber. Ends of the pipe or conduit 4 are bent upwardly, as shown atIt, to register with a recess I5 leading from the chamber i2 and thewires 5 and 6 extend through this recess into the chamber for engagementwith the bolts l3 which serve as binding posts for the socket. It is tobe understood that binding posts other than the bolts [3 may be providedif so desired. An outstanding flange 16 extends about the body and isoverlapped by the inwardly extending flange ll of a metal frame I8 whichrests upon the surface of the highway where it is firmly secured bybolts l9 which are seated in openings drilled in the highway and securedby lead, as shown at 20. It will thus be seen that the frame will befirmly secured but when it is necessary to renew a bulb or make otherrepairs, the nuts of the bolts l9 may be removed and the frame theneasily lifted out of place so that the body ll of the signal may belifted from the highway and access had to the chamber [2. A seat 2! ofrubber is placed under the frame and body to form a tight joint when thenuts of the bolts l9 are tightened and thus prevent rain water or meltedsnow from entering the chamber or conduit and causing a short circuit.

The contact which is carried by the train is preferably mounted underthe fender 22 of the engine 23 and includes a mounting bar 24 which isfirmly secured by bolts 25. The mounting bar, which extendslongitudinally of the engine, is insulated therefrom by a strip ofinsulating material 26 and at its forward end is provided with 2.depending block 2'! to which the forked upper end of the arm 28 ispivotally mounted, as shown at 29. A spring 30, which has its endsanchored to lugs 3| and 32 carried by the strip 24 and arm 28, urges thearm downwardly so that when a train is approaching the crossing andreaches an end portion of the contact strip or rail It, the roller 33,which is rotatably mounted between forks 34 at the lower end of the arm28, will be held in engagement with the contact strip. In order to limitdownward movement of the arm and. prevent the roller from striking theties or other obstructions along the track, there has been provided aset screw 35 which is threaded through the block 21 in position forengagement by a finger 36 projecting downwardly from the upper endportion of the arm at a forward incline. By adjusting the set screw andthen securing it in a set position by tightening the lock nut 31, theextent to which the arm is moved downwardly by the spring when theroller is out of engagement with the contact strip can be accuratelyregulated. Power for operating the signal is obtained from the generator38 carried by the engine, and upon referring to Figure 6 it will be seenthat this generator has one side grounded upon the metal frame of theengine by a wire 39 and its other side connected with the arm 28 by awire 40. As long as the roller 33 is in engagement with the contactstrip or rail l0, a circuit will be completed through the bulbs 8 of thesignaling elements 3 and thus cause the signaling elements to beilluminated but as soon as the roller moves out of engagement with thecontact strip, the circuit will be broken and the bulbs extinguished. Ihave, therefore, provided a railroad crossing signal which is soconstructed that when a train is approaching a crossing, the signalingelements will be illuminated and that the contact strip or third rail isof such length and the signaling elements located at such a distancefrom the crossing that a person driving an automobile along the highwaywill be warned in ample time to bring the automobile to a stop beforereaching the railroad crossing.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a railroad crossing signal, a signaling element comprising a thickbody of light penetratable material having a flat under face and avertically disposed rear face merging at its upper end into atransversely curved upper face disposed at a downward incline toward itsforward edge, an outstanding marginal flange about the lower edge of thebody, said body having its lower portion formed with a chamber openingthrough the underface of the body, a lamp receiving socket mounted insaid chamber against the rear wall thereof, a frame fitting about thebody and having an inwardly projecting flange overlying the flange ofthe body, and means for firmly securing the frame upon the surface of ahighway with its flange applying pressure to the flange of the body andholding the body fiat upon the highway.

2. A signaling element for a railroad crossing comprising a body ofthick light penetratable material having its lower portion hollow toprovide a chamber opening through the under face of the body the bodyhaving a vertically disposed rear face merging at its upper end into atransversely rounded upper surface sloping forwardly, a lamp receivingsocket mounted in said chamber, and a frame, fitting about said body andadapted to be secured upon the surface of a highway, said frame havinginwardly extending portions overlapping companion outstanding portionsat the bottom of the body to hold the body firmly in place upon thehighway when the frame is secured thereon.

CHESTER F. JOHNSON.

